Latest news with #BernalilloCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Man kills 40-year-old who testified against his son at trial, NM officials say
A 46-year-old man is heading to prison in connection with a revenge killing in New Mexico, prosecutors said. Theodore Toney was sentenced to life behind bars after being convicted of first-degree murder in Kenneth Ellis' April 2024 death, the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said in a June 3 post on Facebook. The fatal shooting during an Albuquerque dance event came about eight years after Ellis gave testimony against Toney's son during a homicide trial, prosecutors said, adding that 'Toney threatened Ellis and his family after Ellis testified.' Toney's attorney, Jonathan Schildgen, said in a June 4 email to McClatchy News that 'Mr. Toney is innocent and looks forward to his appeal.' Schildgen added, 'We object to the imposition of a life sentence as cruel and unusual punishment.' In an online obituary, Ellis was described as 'a die hard New England Patriots fan' and a Christian with 'a very good relationship with the lord and savior.' He played semi-professional football for years and coached youth sports, the obituary said. The 40-year-old married father 'touched so many peoples lives in such positive ways,' the obituary said. '(He) was so full of life, he always had a smile on his face and would tell people life is too short to be angry all the time.'
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Massage employee kidnapped, sexually assaulted, NM officials say. Man sentenced
A man is going to prison for nearly two decades after being convicted last year of sexually assaulting a massage parlor employee, New Mexico officials said. In August 2019, Nicolas Lacombe was accused of kidnapping a masseuse and holding her at gunpoint before robbing and sexually assaulting her, according to a May 21 Facebook post by the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. In December, Lacombe pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping, aggravated battery, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment, prosecutors said. McClatchy News reached out to the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office on May 23 for more information and was awaiting a response. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison on May 20, officials said. Bernalillo County is about a 5-mile drive southeast from Albuquerque.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Woman's 2006 rape kit sat untested for 11 years in New Mexico. Now man convicted
A man accused of kidnapping and raping a woman from a New Mexico parking lot in 2006 has been convicted, prosecutors say. Erik Thomas Lea was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping and two counts of criminal sexual penetration, the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said in a May 19 Facebook post. An attorney representing Lea did not immediately respond to McClatchy News' request for comment May 20. 'This conviction is a testament to the dedication of our prosecutors and their unwavering efforts to get justice for victims,' Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in the Facebook post. 'It brings hope to survivors — no matter how much time has passed, you're not forgotten.' Lea is accused of kidnapping a woman from a parking lot outside an Albuquerque business in June 2006, prosecutors said. The woman was visiting the area for her husband's pool tournament, according to police, KRQE reported. As the woman was trying to get into her car, an unknown man pushed her inside and got into the backseat, officials said in court documents. The man forced 'her to drive to a secluded area where he raped her,' prosecutors said. The man then threatened to kill the woman if she went to police, officials said. However, the woman reported the attack to police and underwent a sexual assault exam, where a rape kit was collected, officials said. The kit was not tested until more than a decade later in 2017, and DNA identified Lea as the unknown man from the attack, according to officials. Lea was arrested in April 2019, officials told KOAT. Lea's conviction comes after the city of Albeque established a project to test a backlog of rape kits per the direction of Mayor Tim Keller's 2018 executive order, the city says on its website. 'The implementation of The Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog Reduction Project is the first step to correcting oversights and changing the course of action for the future,' the website says. Between 2017 and 2020, more than 4,500 backlogged sexual assault evidence kits were tested, data on the city's website shows. 'As part of a coordinated effort to address Albuquerque's backlog of untested, Sexual Assault Kit cases,' the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative was also formed, according to the district attorney's website. 'The SAKI Team, a dedicated group of attorneys, investigators and victim advocates, is tasked with reviewing, testing and prosecuting rape kit backlog cases and working with victims to build cases and provide them with supportive services and resources,' the website says. The district attorney's office SAKI unit, which has had 23 cold case rape convictions in two years, prosecuted Lea's case, prosecutors said. 'We are thankful the victim persevered to get this case to trial, and we're glad that justice was done today,' Deputy District Attorney Jack Jacks with the SAKI unit said in the Facebook post.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Mom killed when street racer slams into her car, NM reports say. Man convicted
A man accused of taking part in a street race that killed two people, including a 42-year-old mom, was convicted in connection with vehicular homicide and other charges, according to reports in New Mexico. A jury found Andy Doreste-Saumell, 29, guilty of charges including two counts of vehicular homicide and reckless driving, the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said in a May 16 post on Facebook. McClatchy News reached out to his attorney May 19 and was awaiting a response. The deadly wreck happened in October 2023 in Albuquerque, prosecutors said. Doreste-Saumell was racing another car 'when the other racer crashed into a third vehicle,' according to prosecutors. Tyler Turnbull, the driver racing Doreste-Saumell, died from his injuries, and so did Jenna Hamilton, prosecutors said. Hamilton was driving a Toyota with her teen daughter and her daughter's friend when they were hit, KRQE reported. The two girls were seriously hurt in the crash, according to a GoFundMe. Hamilton's pastor described her as faithful, joyful, ready to help and a great mom, KOB4 reported. An online obituary said the wife, mom and teacher-turned-church bookkeeper was known for her 'gentle spirit, her compassion, her thoughtfulness, her warm and loving smile.' Turnbull was 24 when he died, according to an online obituary, which said he 'was a fun, loving and caring person with a heart as big as the ocean.' Doreste-Saumell was driving 103 mph at the time of the wreck, prosecutors said. He faces up to 20 years behind bars. A sentencing hearing is scheduled in June, according to court records.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Albuquerque police officer fired in 2016 now tied to DWI corruption scandal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said that, based on information from the feds, they placed former Albuquerque Police Department officer Steve Hindi on the Giglio list of officers whose credibility is compromised. He joins 13 other officers from APD, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, and New Mexico State police, whose credibility issues are tied to the long-running criminal scheme, in which officers took bribes to sabotage DWI cases. At this point, he has not been charged. Hindi worked on and off for APD starting in 1980. Related Coverage: Albuquerque police officer fired in 2016 now tied to DWI corruption scandal DWI corruption case: Why can't we see officers plead guilty in federal court? 'We're not done yet': FBI discusses future of DWI scandal as another APD officer takes a plea Take a look at the plea deals in New Mexico's DWI scandal Attorney implicated in DWI scheme not arguing against license suspension The department fired him in December 2015 after he tried to intimidate an investigator with the Civilian Police Oversight Agency over a complaint against him. Court records show that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hindi had more than 50 cases with defense attorney Thomas Clear III, who admitted to being the ringleader of the criminal scheme. Two-thirds of those cases were dismissed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
